English Language Teaching – (M.A.)

Contents

This course is designed to improve and enhance opportunities for teaching English language in a variety of different situations, both in the UK and abroad. It differs from many other Master

You will be able to choose a dissertation topic, in consultation with the Course Leader, which speaks to your own interests and allows you to pursue a particular period, genre, author or critical issue in greater depth. It will also encourage reflection on where ELT is going in the 21st Century and make sure you are aware of major theoretical developments in this and related areas. Full research training at the appropriate level is provided in the form of the compulsory Research Methods module. The English Language Teaching MA makes full use of the range of academic expertise within the department, with modules designed to speak to the research interests of staff as well as offering you variety and intellectual challenge.

Teaching/assessment

Taught modules will require some preparatory reading and weekly attendance over a 12 week period. Formal classroom contact will normally be one two-hour session per-week per-module, and will take the form of a workshop. The term 'workshop' is used rather than lecture or seminar to indicate that the session will be used flexibly by the tutor to include student presentations, small group exercises, screening of film clips, interactive short lectures, plenary discussion or a formal lecture/seminar split.

These sessions will be supported by individual or small group tutorials. The workshop structure places a clear emphasis on student participation and contribution, and you are expected to undertake extensive preparation for each session - usually taking the form of required reading and secondary research.

The dissertation depends much more on one-to-one and small group tutorial contact. Here the emphasis is placed on independent study, and the tutor acts as facilitator to guide and monitor your progress.

Staff

All members of the English language department are highly qualified and experienced and bring a truly international dimension to their teaching. Most have lived and taught extensively abroad, in countries such as Japan, China, India, Taiwan and Libya. Research interests include English for business purposes, IT and multimedia in EFL, English for academic purposes, Chinese-English interference, the status of non-native English speaking teachers, and the status of ELT in developing countries. Staff have been guest speakers at conferences throughout the world and have published a variety of books and articles on English for academic purposes and English grammar.

The Centre for English Language Learning is accredited by the British Council and is an institutional member of the British Association For Lecturers of Academic English and the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language. David Boydon, Head of Centre, is also a full member of the Institute of Learning and Teaching and external examiner for The University of Central Lancashire. Susan Barwick has an MA in TEFL from Reading University and specialises in phonetics and phonology and psycholinguistics. Mary Archer has an MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from the University of Leicester and specialises in sociolinguistics. Jan Martin, Course Leader, is a BEC examiner, and a CELTA Teacher Trainer and Module Leader for Trends and Issues. Larry Brown holds a Dip TEFLA and has a particular interest in designing materials and website construction. Dr Keith Scott holds a PhD in French and is the module leader for Research Methods.